The Penrith Panthers have upset the Parramatta Eels 13-12 after fill-in Panthers five-eighth Matt Burton kicked the winning field goal in the final minute of the game.
But the game wasn’t without controversy.
Eels halfback Mitchell Moses had a chance to kick the winning penalty goal in the final 30 seconds after an Eels player was escorted from contesting the ball but the halfback missed the kick.
There was a lot riding on this game for the Eels playmaker because not only were two competition points on the line but a NSW number seven jersey was up for grabs after Nathan Cleary was ruled out for four to six weeks with an injury, which has ruled him out of State of Origin Game 3.
I don’t like putting hate on players of any sport because they’re doing more than what I do and what most people do but Mitchell Moses really should’ve iced the game for the Eels, especially with the Panthers missing their main playmaker.
There was a lot of news surrounding Moses about whether or not he should wear the number seven for the Blues in Game 3 but he’s not ready.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Moses did finish the game with one try assist but that was lucky because Panthers fill-in fullback Charlie Staines let the ball bounce and Eels second-row forward Isaiah Papali’i took the ball and scored.
Moses’ running game was basically non-existent and he didn’t have a line break or a line break assist but his kicking game was okay. Nowhere close to another playmaker who will be auditioning for that Blues number seven jersey who plays for South Sydney.
I’m going to stop talking about Moses for now and move onto the Panthers’ dummy-half Api Koroisau, who came up with multiple moments by himself, which swung momentum to the Panthers’ side. He got his team two or three set restarts and got over to score a try but he also made a whopping 62 tackles for three misses.
The wingers for the Panthers combined for 504 running metres with Brian To’o running for 259 and Brent Naden running for 245.
Naden didn’t look that bad in his return to first grade with the future Canterbury Bulldog also having two tackle breaks, one line break and 102 post-contact metres. Tyrone May also had a solid defensive game with 38 tackles but five misses.
The quiet achiever as always is Isaah Yeo, who is also underrated along with being the quiet achiever. The lock forward ran for 158 metres and was perfect in defence with 38 tackles for zero misses.
NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler shouldn’t go with Mitchell Moses but he should go with the very experienced Adam Reynolds, whose kicking game is as good or better than Cleary’s. He’s also been there before in 2016 but we will see on Sunday how he plays against the Tigers.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Well he’s better than Mosses. For a little bloke he’s not too bad as the guy is only about 165cm tall (not 175 cm or 5’9″ as its on Wikipedia :laughing: ) and for his size he’s not too bad. But I was comparing him to Mosses anyway.
Anon
Guest
Reynolds is a good defender - that actually made me laugh out loud.
Anon
Guest
Describe for me the examples of how this ego is on display? He is passionate on the field, but so is Jerome Luia and we are all supposed to laud him..
Tom G
Roar Rookie
The Eels are very overrated by the pundits this year. Just like last year. A decent side but nothing spectacular.
Onya!
Guest
Watching the Storm play, that’s probably correct. However, wasn’t it Penrith without Cleary & Edwards that defeated Melbourne earlier this season? Only Papenhuyzen missing from Melbourne in that game. Parramatta defeated Melbourne. For 2 losses in a row for the Storm. As attitude in defence is just as important as anything else in league. You can never say anything is a certainty.
Joey
Guest
Laughable that it’s thought that fullback is Staines best position. He was ordinary. Had nothing in kick returns. More chance of losing ground than making ground, got found out under the high ball, and on-line defence was paper thin. Make no mistake this is a champion team who have found their favoured specialist positions on the field, but a team of champions they are not. They can’t mix and match where they play (at all). Last night pushed them 4 points clear of 3rd, but hard to think top 2 is safe by any stretch. Minor Premiership means beating Storm, and based on last night it would be 50-0 against.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Reynolds is a pretty good defender and he won’t go lame, as Cleary didn't do all the defending in SOO 1 and 2, the Blues need a good tactical kicker and that is where Reynolds is as good as gold.
Tony
Roar Guru
Reynolds is the man for the job
Larry1950
Guest
First, how does a team sitting second on the table with a recent run of 27 wins from 28 before origin disruption be classed at causing an upset against a team below them on the ladder? They only had one player missing, even if he was an origin halfback. Think you’ve grossly overrated Parramatta who really haven’t done much against the top echelon of teams. Not sure how you saw the match but I reckon the Eels were hanging on by their fingernails for the majority of the last 60 minutes once Penrith shook of their early disjointedness.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Probably got that way with his media mates perpetually pumping up his tyres.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Aside from kicking the tripe out of the ball Moses did very little to push for selection. He is no doubt a good player but a great player he is not
Albo
Roar Rookie
For me , its who can stand up defensively on Munster & Fifita on that right side like Cleary does ? Not sure any of the candidates can ? So do they go with right side player Moses for his long kicking game or right side player Reynolds with his Souths combinations of Cook & Murray ? Or do they go with current squad members Luai & Wighton ( both preferred left side players) with less effective long kicking games ? I like Wighton's defensive qualities for this one.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
It makes sense..Reyno Murray and Cookie.. Latrell chasing his kicks.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Just to put my 2 bobs worth about last night and Mosses. The Eels backline just hasn’t got a clue, they bombed at least 2 tries if they were quick enough like the Bunnies backline is and the amount of ball that the Eels had in the first half they should have been at least 12 points ahead at the break. Mosses was very ordinary and his kicks were just straight down Staines throat virtually every kick, yes he got lucky with one but none of his kicks were SOO class or never did Mosses kicks ever achieve anything. He missed field goals and a crucial penalty goal that could have won the Eels this game, now let’s reverse roles and put Reynolds in those situations, what does anybody think? As I’m 100% sure that Reynolds would have either nailed a 2 point FG or got that last penalty goal and would have won this game. IMO Reynolds is the man for the Blues #7, I’ve said that after Cleary got injured as Reynolds just nails his kicking game and his halfback role week in and week out and I’m especially talking about his FG and goal kicking role. Btw, Mosses is not a young bloke, he’s been around for 7 years at NRL level and he can’t even handle pressure like an NRL game? If Freddy wants a record clean sweep in the 2021 SOO then Mosses is not the man for the Blues halfback position. Just as a reminder the Bunnies have beaten the Eels with Mosses in their side this year and in R12; 38-20 then in 2020 R16; 38-0 then in the semis; 38-24. IMO it’s a no brainer to pick Reynolds.
kk
Roar Pro
If Parra had signed Reyno they would have become genuine premiership material. With Moses they need a miracle. O3. Luai in 7. Wighton in 6.
Joey
Guest
Rest the whole NSW team for game III. Who really gives a crap about the whitewash. Enough damage to Panthers already. Will at least give Qld a chance, make for a closer game, and who cares if they win. They still get to suck eggs watching the Blues hoist the shield.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
parra gonna parra
souvalis
Roar Rookie
You'd reckon upwards of 90% of Blue fans would agree with that..
Tony
Roar Guru
If Fittler wants to achieve a clean sweep against QLD this year then the experience of Reynolds is needed alongside the inexperienced Luai. If he wants to give QLD a sniff of redemption, then go with Moses.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Parra need Fergo back, he's done his penance Dunster plays and is treated by opponents as a reserve grader. The whole backline, actually, lacks anyone likely to line break. Papall'i (and to a lesser extent Brown) keeps on giving these super back row performances, currently no forward is playing better or increased their market value as he has. That game confirmed their chances of winning this year as a nah.